It's that time again! Are you ready to become part of the group that works behind the scenes to make PWA happen? Do you know someone that should be? Although it seems early to think about board terms that begin 1 January, 2008, the process is starting now to give each member time to consider what they have and would like to offer to PWA in terms of experience, knowledge and energy.
Being a member of the board is a wonderful way to make new contacts and learn new skills. I personally have met many members that I wouldn't have otherwise and I've made strides in areas such as public speaking and event organization.
If you'd like to learn more, you can find more information on our website in the members' area, or talk to any of the current board members at the next PWA event. 1 November - the deadline for putting yourself forward as a candidate - is just around the corner! Watch for updates on the website.
›› Read about the Board positions (pdf)
A Typical 2007 PWA Member
As of the end of September this year, we have more than 150 members. Who is our “average member”? Based upon the information provided by our members, Pamela Fries, Membership Director, will give you a brief overview. Every year the Professional Woman’s Association of Milan changes in terms of members’ profiles, while the reasons for joining PWA remain basically the same...
›› Read more...
Virtual Membership
I was recently asked how I benefit from my “remote membership” of EPWN, given that although I have been a member of PWA Milan for over a year, I have yet to physically attend a meeting. This question got me thinking about the payoff of being a member of an organization that I use only remotely. This set-up seems to contradict the nature of a networking organizing, which is to bring together its members in special events and seminars in order to exchange ideas, contacts, and experiences. Am I simply lazy? Or am I too influenced by the digital age of impersonal online networking? Perhaps a little of both. But the more I thought about my motivation for joining PWA Milan last September, the more I understood that my approach to membership is more a reflection of my current lifestyle (with all of its advantages and limitations) than an expression of what I traditionally seek from a networking organization. I also realized that this membership has opened doors for me that I could not have expected from as far away as Canada.
›› Read more...
Much More Unites Us
As a newcomer to Milan after decades in the tropics, it first appeared to me that many - if not most - things were vastly different. However, as a strategic marketer, I was driven to explore this apparent diversity and to determine how the Caribbean (specifically Trinidad) was both like and unlike Milan. Of particular interest was the influential female market, which makes 70% of consumer purchases (Brand Channel.com, 2006) and how a marketer from the Caribbean has to modify strategy to successfully introduce brands in Milan. Pause for a minute…and think of any Caribbean island and your image of the women there. Would you imagine that these women were comparable to Milanese women in the reasons they chose brands?
›› Read more...
New Services for PWA Members
PWA has created a group for members on LinkedIn, an English-language online business network widely used all over the world. What does this mean? If you are already a member of LinkedIn or become one, you can join the PWA group and be instantly connected to other PWA members that choose to participate. Membership is free so why not join now?
You can also find out more information on the LinkedIn website. For technical issues, contact Maria Lassila.
